Apparatus for electrically treating gases.



Patented Apr. 9, I90I.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

l Inv? ad E (X7 W @y n. J. vAnNoLn.

APPARATUS FUR ELECTRICALLY TREATING GASES.

v (Application led Aug. 2B, 1899.) (Hu lionel.)

No. 67|,507. Patented Apr. 9, |90I.

R. J. YARNULD.

APPARATUS FUR ELECTRICALLY TREATING GASES. =Application fired Aug. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Fries.

REGINALD JOHN YARNOLD, O-F STREATHAM, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY TRATING GASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 671,507, dated April 9, 1901'.

Application filed August 29, 1899. Serial No. 728,852. (No model.) n

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REGINALD JOHN YAR- NOLD,chemist,-asubject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland,anda resident of 44 Sternhold avenue, Streatham, county of Surrey, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Electrolyzing or Electrically Treating Gases and Gaseous Mixtures or Compounds, (for which I have filed applications for patents in Great Britain on February 6, 1899; in' Belgium on June 28, 1899; in France on July 6, 1899, and in Germany on July 15, 1899,) of which the following is a specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

l This invention relates to improved apparatus to be employed in the electrical treatdment of air for,converting the contained oxygen into the allotropic form known as ozone andof other gases or gaseous mixtures or compounds for electrolyzing or effecting the allotropic moditication thereof.

The improved apparatus is characterized by acombination of electrodes and interposed diele'ctrics in-which a plurality of dielectrics ot' a higher dielectric capacity than that of the air or gas to be treated and respectively separated or spaced apart by distance-pieces also of a higher dielectric capacity than that of the air or gas undertreatment is interposed between a pair or between each two adjacent ones of a series of electrodes in circuit with a source of electric energy in such a manner as to form an air or gas channel, respectively, between each two adjacent dielectrics and `between each adjacent dielectric and electrode and aconsequent plurality ot such air or gas channels alternating with such plurality of dielectrics between adjacent electrodes, so that an electric discharge between adjacent electrodes will be caused to pass through a pluralityV of separating or inter- "posed and respectively separated dielectrics and across a plurality of air or gas channels of llss dielectric capacity alternating therewit f 0n the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 3 represent the apparatus in three modications of cylindrical form, in transverse section, respectively, through 1 1, 2 2,- and 3 3, Figs. 4 to 6, .showing apair of electrodes with an interposed plurality off-respectively separated channel-termin g dielectrics. Figs. 4to 6 represent longitudinal sections of Figs. 1 to 3, respectively, through 4 4, 5 5, and 6 6. Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal section of Figs.' l to 3 through 7 7. Fig. 8 represents the apparatus, in flat form, in transverse section through 8 8, Fig. 9. Fig. 9 represents a Iongitudinal section through 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 represents the apparatus, in hat form, .in transverse section through 10 10, Fig. 11, showing a series of electrodes with an interposed plurality of respectively separated channel-forming dielectrics between each two adjacent electrodes; and Fig. 11 represents a longitudinal section through 11 11, Fig. 10.

a represents the channelforming dielectrics; d, the distance-pieces ,separating the same; b, the inclosiug or covering electrodes, and c the air or gas channels formed by the parts a. b d.

The dielectrics a may consist of glass, mica, or any other suitable substance of ahigher dielectric capacity than that of the air or gas to be treated in the apparatus, and-the distance or separating piecesd, which in the flat forms of the apparatus also aid in forming the air or gas channels, may also consist of the same substance as that of the dielectrics a. or of any other suitable 'substance of a higher dielectric capacity' than that of the air or gas to be treated in the apparatus.

In the improved apparatus a plurality of the dielectrics arranged cylindrically or flatwise, as represented, or otherwise and horizontally, vertically, or otherwise in parallel and equidistant relation, separated or spaced apart by the distance-pieces d, is interposed between a pair of electrodes b, Figs. 1 to 9, or

between each two adjacent ones of a series of electrodes b, Figs. 10 and 1l, in circuit with a source of electric energy in such a manner as to form an air or gas channel c, respectively, between each two adjacent dielectrics i IOO posed and respectively separated dielectrics and across a plurality of air or gas channels of less dielectric capacity alternating therewith.

I am aware that in apparatus hitherto used l for the purpose of the invention combinations of alternating electrodes and dielectrics have been`employed, so arranged either so thatbut a single air or gas channel is formed be,- tween adjacent electrodes, betweeny one thereof and the interposed dielectric, kor-so that but two such cha-nnels are formed between adiacent electrodes, one between each thereof 'and the interposed dielectric; b'utlsuch arrangements are subject to the practical dis-` advantages of anexcessive electrode or discharging surface in\ proportion to the 'air capacity, a corresponding low-current density, a, considerable fall of potential difference between Ythe electrodes and ununiforrnity of discharge, resulting in a relatively low electrochemical eiciency of action on the air or gas under treatment, and a correspondingly poor 'result as regards the ozonizing of the air or proportion to the air capacity, a correspondy ingly-increased density of discharging-cur-- rent per'unit of discharging area, and a more uniform discharge through the air or gas under treatment,and also more constantly maintains the electric potential and lessens the liability of short-circuiti ng,and th us prod uces 7 a higher electrochemical efficiency of action on the air or gas under treatment and a proportionately-increased ozonizing of the air or other allotropic modification of the gas, as the case may be, whereby the chemicalactivity ofl such products will be more highly increased and their utilization in the arts will be considerably extended. v

The improved "apparatus also enables high potential alternating or pulsating currents of electricity to be employed in effecting the objects of'the invention and enables high po- .te-ntial electric induction` -discharges'l'zto 'be readily propagated between electrodesplac'ed at a distance apart, across 'which a. l'ku dis-f A.'Svi'r'..

charge could not be propagatedin said` ing arrangements. What Ivclaim as my invention, an

to secure by Letters Patent,.is-

'l`. 'Inan apparatus for electrolyzing orelec-4 4 trically treating gases and gaseousinixtures. 'if LI or compounds, the combination with .elecfI-f` vtrodes in circuit with a source of electrical ,energy, of a plurality of respectively-separated channel-forming dielectrics:interposedv` between'e'ach two adjacent electrodesfandi'so l' I desi@ arranged as to form an air o r gas-fellanfnlel.be?,-y

tween each two adjacent dielectricsandvvbetween each adjacent dielectric andelectrode and se as-to divide the 'space'betweenfadjaf cent electrodes into a .plurality'of suchair or gasV channels alternating ywith such plurality of dielectrics, substantially'as shown" an dde# scribed. l i3 i fj 2.V In an apparatus for electrolyzl'ing'or-elec tricallytreating gases and gaseonsmixtures or compounds, the combination with fa plurality of independent gas chamhersor' passages for the passage of the gas, the walls of which chambers are formed of dielectric material separatingr the chambers one from `an. other, of electrodes arrangedv so that the inductive eect of the electric current between adjacent electrodes will be causedl to pass successively through a plurality of dielectric walled independent gas passages or chambers, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an apparatus for electrolyzing or electrically treating gases and gaseous mixtures or compounds,lthe combination with a plurality of concentric gas chambers or passages for the passage of the gas, the wallsiof which chambers are y'formed of dielectric material,

of a central electrode or electrodes, and a corresponding electrode or electrodes exterior to the outer gas passage or chamber, substantially as shown and described. v

Signed at London, England, this 18th day of August, 1899. f

REGINALD JOHN YARNoLD.

\ Witnesses: l

CHARLES AUBREY DAY, ARTHUR WALTER DAY. 

